Antidrag developing machine and method of developing film



' April 9, 1935.

T. ML INGMAN ANTIDRAG DEVELOPING MACHINE AND METHOD OF DEVELOPING FILM Filed Aug. 15, 1932 l/v MEN T06 Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTIDRAG DEVELOPING MACHINE AND METHOD OF DEVELOPING FILM Thomas M. Ingman, Los Angeles, Calif. Application August 15, 1932, Serial No. 628,814

28 Claims.

My invention relates to the treatment of film strips and relates particularly to a method and apparatus for the treatment of a film strip whereby a constant degree of treatment may be substantially maintained throughout the entire length of the film strip, whereby the eifect of drag of chemical compounds and other substances across the face of the film strip will be minimized or eliminated.

As an example of the utility of my present invention, I may cite the conditions encountered in the developing of a motion picture film in the average continuous or automatic developing machine in which the strip of film is moved at a substantially constant rate of speed through consecutive baths or fluids. As the film strip is moved through a treating solution, the chemicals in the treating solution react with the elements of the images of the film, and reaction compounds are formed which make their way to the surface of the film. If the film strip is moving relative to a body of treatingsolution such as a developing solution, or if the solution is moving along the surface of the film strip, this relative movement of the solution longitudinally over the face of the film strip drags these reaction compounds along the face of the film strip, with the result that the image/is distorted. For example, films now developed in continuous developing machines are found to have halos or light areas at one side of the representations of objects in the images, which seriously detract from definition or clearness of the photographic image. Also this chemical drag distorts the sound records of motion picture films and is destructive to the quality of sound reproduction. As a further example, a commonly employed sound record on talking motion picture films consists of striations of variable density arranged in a sound track at one side of the film. The drag of chemical compounds from the dark portions to the light portions or from the light portions to the dark portions of a sound track distorts the photographic sound image to the extent that the relative opacity of the different striations does not accurately. follow or represent the fluctuations of the "sound controlled light wave employed to produce the initial negative sound image or sound track.

My invention comprehends a method and apparatus for substantially eliminating chemical drag in the'treatment of motion picture film, or

- at least minimizing such drag to the extent that I I the eifects thereof are imperceptible, and my invention'further comprehends means formaintreating solutions on the film throughout the entire length of a film and in the consecutive portions thereof.

I have found also in the development of films in continuous developing machines that the sound track development is influenced by the character of the adjacent picture image, due to unequal action of the treating solutions in the difierent portions of the sound track, such diiference in the action of the solutions resulting from the weakening of adjacent portions of the solutions or impregnation of adjacent portions of the solutions by chemical compounds resulting from reaction of the chemicals or elements of the solutions with the constituents of the picture images.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple method and apparatus in which a film strip to be developed is conducted through a path of movement, and during its movement through such path is subject to streams of fluid or solutions flowing first in one direction and then the other, so that where a slight chemical drag is caused by one stream fiowing across the film in one direction, such drag is immediately neutralized by the succeeding stream flowing in an op posite direction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for treating a film strip, in which the film strip is conducted through a sinuous or undulating conduit member or trough consisting of adjacent, consecutive, upwardly and downwardly sloping sections, and while being moved through the undulating path provided by the conduit member or trough is treated by streams of treating fluid or solution of desired characteristics which are introduced into the upper portions of the sections and caused to fiow downwardly therein, thereby subjecting the film strip to relatively opposite flows of treating fluid to minimize or substantially eliminate chemical drag, the velocity of the fluid streams being such that constant activity of the treating fluid is maintained in all parts of the film strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical, yet efflcient, film treating device in which the principles of the invention may be practiced.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a partly sectionedelevational view of diagrammatic character, showing a simple form of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on a plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of a fragment of a motion picture film having a sound track.

In Fig. 3 I diagrammatically showa portion of a film H having frames i2 and a sound track 53, the frames l2 constituting photographic picture images and the sound track 63 constituting a photographic sound image. I have found that the constancy, evenness, and definition of the images of a motion picture film developed in a continuous developing machine are afiected by several factors: first, by the chemical drag from parts of the images to adjacent parts thereof; and second, by the difference in strength of the layer of solution, such as the developer, engaging or covering the surface of the film. As an example of the first factor or condition, if the film H is developed by moving it for a considerable distance through a developer in the direction of the arrow it, the developer will drag chemical compounds, such as bromide, across the face of the film in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the film or in the direction of the arrow it; therefore, reaction compounds formed in the areas it and ll of the frames 52 will be dragged leftwardly and will adhere to the surface of the film in the areas it and 2t lying to the left of and adjacent the areas It and Hand slow down the action of the development in such areas. Also, a similar drag will occur in the sound track,

and the densities of the striations 29 of the sound track it will be changed from true values relative to the intensity of the sound vibrations from which they were originally produced. As an example of the second factor or condition, it is found that where the frames of a film vary in density, the varying absorption of chemical constituents from the developer by the portions of the frames i2 lying adjacent the sound track will vary the strength of the developer engagin the sound track 93, and the rate of degree of development of the sound image will be varied in accordance with the strength of the developer-to which it is subjected.

In my invention I provide, as shown in Fig. l, a film treating or developing device having a developing division 25, a fixing division 26, a washing division EL'and a drying division 28. The

divisions 25 and 26 are substantially identical, each consisting of a conduit member in the form of a trough 38 which extends essentially horizontally but undulates from one end to the other thereof so as to form consecutive, adjacent, upwardly and downwardly sloping sections at, 32, 33, and 3 3, there being fluid outlet chambers I, and 36 at and communicating with the front and rear ends of the trough 339. Between the raised upper por ons of the chambers fit-into the upper.

ends or portions of the sections 3! to 3d and fiow downwardly in the sections ill and 36 to the respective' outlet chambers 35 and 36 at the lower ends thereof, and downwardly in the sections 32 and 33 to central outlet chambers 63 disposed between the lower ends of the sections 32 and 33 and connected to the containers to through return pipes 68. From the outlet members or chambers 35 and 361pipes and 45 return fluids to the containers 60.

, 1 In the disclosed preferred embodiment of the treating device, a number of important features have been taken into consideration. The fluid containers at have been made in slender trough with the, film andwith the walls of the troughs I Sll, the result being that the depth of the troughs may be maintained at a minimum. Accordingly, in the device the sections referred to are defined by the streams of treating fluid which are caused to fiow in essentially opposite directions along the path of the film defined by the trough members 3t, and the use of the term section" herein refers to the zones or divisions of the fluid containers 3!! identified or defined by the fiuid streams, since it is in the characteristic action of these streams that an important feature of the invention resides.

- The washing division 2! comprises a conduit member or trough-d1 consisting of a forward, upwardly sloping section d8 which extends from a rear section' 52 which extends from an inlet chamber 53 placed adjacent the chamber St to an outlet chamber 56. Through fluid delivery piping 55 having a pump 5S therein, wash water is carried from a water reservoir 51 to the inlet member 5!, this water overflowing into the upper end of the section 58 and flowing downwardly therein to the outlet chamber 56, to be returned through piping 58 to the water reservoir 51. Through fluid delivery piping 60 having a pump Si therein, water is carried. from 'a second reservoir 62 to the inlet member or chamber 53, this water overflowing into the upper portion of the section 52 and flowing downwardly therein to the outlet chamber 5%, to be returned through piping 53 to the reservoir 62.

With reference to the apparatus shown in Fig. l, the invention is practiced essentially in the following manner. From a film spool 66 a film t5 t c be developed is carried over a guide spool 65 andispassed under a guide spool 8'5 mounted in the inlet chamber 35 of the developing division :25, from which it is passed over and underrespective guide spools 68, W, H, and 82 to a spool it placed adjacen a pulling sprocket It. From the sprocket Mg t e film is carried under and over respective spools Gil, 68, 1d, H, and E2 of the fixing division 26 so as to be thereby guided through the conduit member 38 of such fixing division 26. From the final spool 52 of the fixing division 2d the film is carried to a take-up means 85 consisting of a painof spools l6 mounted on stationary axes and a traveling spool i1 associated with a weight '58 for producing a continuous and predetermined tension in the film. As indicated at 89, the film is carried to a spool 8! situated in the outlet member and is passed therefrom upwardly in the section d8 of the conduit means d'l forming part of the washing division 2i. The film is passed over a spool 82 situated at the peak or high point of the conan outlet chamber 50 to an inlet chamber 5i, and p duit member 41 between the sections it and B2 and is carried downwardly through the section 52 to passumder a spool 03 mounted in the outlet member 54 at the lower end of the section II. From the spool 83 the film is carried to a pulling sprocket 84 and then to a film take-up means" consisting of a traveling spool 88 having a weight 81 hung thereon. From the take-up means 86 the film is led over a spool it into a chamber I! The pulling sprockets ll, 84, and 94 are driven at the same speed, and each accordingly motivates the film at the same speed of movement, the variations in the length of the film strip resulting from its treatment between the pulling sprockets I4 and I4 and between the sprockets 84 and 94 being compensated for by the takeup or compensating means 15 and 85.

Since the invention is described as relating to the development of amotion picture film, the fluid placed in the container 40 is a developer solution, and accordingly during the passage of the film 65 through the conduit member or trough 3|! of the developing division 2!, it is subjected to streams of developer fiowing downwardly in the respective sections 3|, 32, I3, and ll of the division 2'5. As shown in Fig. 2, the quantity of fiuid delivered to each of the sections ii to it is sufilcient relative to the inclination of such sections that each stream of fiuid 06 will be of ample'depth to entirely surround the film it and to fioat the film so that it will not touch the bottom of any section of the conduit member or trough ll. In the section ll of the division 2! the rightwardly traveling film is subjected to a stream or fiow of developer in leftward direction. This produces an initial leftward drag of materials or chemical compounds across the face of the film; but in the succeeding section 32 the fiow of developer is rightward relative to the film strip since the stream of fiuid in such section 32 is traveling at a greater rate of speed than the filmstrip. This results in the dragging of materials or chemical compounds rightwardly to counteract the leftward drag, and where the leftward drag has caused a leftward offsetting of the photographic images, the rightward drag will move the leftwardly offset compounds adhering to the film in rightward direction. In the sections 33 and 3 the film strip is subjected to leftward and rightward dragging efiects, one of which offsets the other; The streams of developer fiuid are directed in opposite directions at such velocity that they are effective in removing from the surface of the film the reaction compounds resulting from the action of the developer on the photographic images of the film strip. In the operation of the device the developer is kept in constant and rapid movement relative to the surface of the film strip so that no body of developer remains in contact with a single surface area for any great length of time, and therefore there are no difi'erences in the degree of development of different parts of the film due todepletion of the strength of portions of the developer.

In the development of motion picture films it is often the practice to carry the film from the developer to a washing step before conducting it into the fixing or hypo solution, but in the drawing I have not shown such intermediate washing step since the use thereof in no way changes the principlesofmyinvention. Inthefixingdivisionfi, in which the container of reservoir it is filled with a fixing solution, the film is subjected to reverseiy flowing streams of fixing solution, and accordingly the treatment compensates for any tendency for the fiow of fiuids relative to the surface of the film strip to produce image drag. The same principle is employed in the final washing division 21 in which the first wash water fiows leftwardly through the section 48 thereof and rightwardly through the section 82 thereof.

.It will be understood that in my device and process image drag in both the fixed image and the sound image is eliminated or minimized. Furthermore, a constant development of the sound track is maintained by reason of the treating solutions being moved atrelatively high velocity relative to the film, and due to turbulence in the fiuid streams the treating fiuids are maintained well mixed, it being contemplated that in the use of the invention the strength of thetreating fiuids will be maintained in accordance with standard practice by the addition of chemicals to replace the quantities thereof lost in reaction with the chemical elements of the film strip. In the practice of the invention the film may be moved through the respective divisions at a relatively slow speed, since the treating solutions are maintained in rapid circulation. This is preferable to moving a film rapidly through a stationary or slowly moving developer, since liability of injury to the film is reduced to a minimum. In addition to this, it permits the making of the developing machine of comparatively small size.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form, it is recognized that certain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantially the same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An film treating device of the character described. including: means defining a path of movement for a film, said path being divided into consecutive sections; means for moving a film through said path; and means for moving treating fiuid throu glr'said path in engagement with said film thefdirection'of fiow of such fiuid being opposite irradiacent sections of said pathand at such velocity as to, remove reaction compounds from the surface of said film.

2. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: means defining a path of movement for a film, said path being divided into consecutive connected sections; means for moving treating fiuid through said path, the direction of fiow of such fiuid being opposite in adjacent sections of said path; and

means for moving a film continuously through. said path in engagement with the treating fluid.

means for moving treating fluid through said path, the direction of flow of such fluid being opposite in adjacent sections of said path; and means for moving a film through said path in a position submerged in the fluid flowing in such path.

4. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: means defining a path of movement for a film, said path being dividedinto consecutive connected sections alternately slopedupwardly and downwardly so i that said path will be substantially sinuousin a vertical plane; means for moving a film-through said path; and means for moving treating fluid through said path in engagement with said film, the direction of flow of such fluid being opposite in adjacent sections of said path, said fluid flowing from the high points of said path to the low points thereof.

5. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: means defining a path o1v movement for a film, said path being divided into consecutive connected sections alternately sloped upwardly and downwardly so that said path will be substantially sinuous in a vertical plane; means for moving a-fllm through said path; a container for a treating fluid; means for delivering treating fluid from said container to. the high points of said path; andreturn conduits connecting the low points of said path with said container.

- 6. An anti-drag filmtreating device of the character described, including: means defining a path of movementfor a film, said path being divided into consecutive connected sections alternately sloped upwardly and-downwardly so that said path will be substantially sinuous in a vertical plane; means for moving'a' film through said path; a container for a treating fluid; means fordelivering treating fluid from said container to the high points of said path; and treating fluid drain members leading from the low points ofsaid path.

7. An anti-drag fllm treating device of the character described, including: an essentially horizontally disposed conduit member defining a path of movement for a film, said member being divided into consecutive connected sections; means for moving a film through said member; and means for moving treating fluid through said member in engagement with said film, the

direction of flow of such fluid being opposite in adjacent sections of said member.

j ber in a position submerged in the fluid flowing in such member.

9. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: an essentially horizontally disposed "conduit member defining a path of movement for a film, said member being divided into consecutive connected sections alternately sloped upwardly and downwardly so that said member will be substantially sinuous in a vertical plane; means for moving a film through said member; and means for moving treating fluid through said member'in engage- 10. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: an essentially horizontally disposed conduit member defining a path of movement for a film, said member being divided into consecutive connected sections alternately sloped upwardly and downwardly so that said member will be substantially sinuous in a vertical plane; means. for moving a film through said member; a container for a treating fluid; means for delivering treating fluid from said container to the high points of said member; and return conduits connecting the low points of said member with said container.

11. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: 'a developing division; a fixing division; a washing division, each of said divisions comprising an essentially horizontally disposed conduit member divided into adjacent sections; means for pulling a film strip continuously through said conduit members; and means for delivering fluids to said conduit members so that flows of fluid in adjacent sections of said conduit members will be in opposite directions and in contact with said film strip.

12. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: a developing division; a fixing division; a washing division, each of said divisions comprising an essentially horizontally disposed conduit member divided into adjacent sections sloping consecutively upwardly and downwardly so as to make said conduit members substantially sinuous in a vertical plane; means for pulling a film strip continuously through said conduit members; fluid containers; means for delivering fluid from said containers to the upper portions of said sections to flow downwardly in said sections in contact with said film strip; and fluid drain means connected with the lower portions of said sections.

13. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described-including: a developing division; a fixing division; a washing division, each of said divisions comprising an essentially horizontally disposed conduit member divided into adjacent sections sloping consecutively upwardly and downwardly so as to make said conduit members substantially sinuous in a vertical plane; means. for pulling a film strip continuously through said conduit members; fluid containers; fluid delivery pipes leading from said containers to the upper portions of said sections, therebeing means for causing delivery of fluid from said containers through said fluid delivery pipes to the upper portions of said sections to flow downwardly in said sections in contact with said film strip; and fluid return pipes connecting the lower portions of said sections with said containers.

14. A method of the character described for preventing image drag and preserving maximum constancy in the treatment of a film strip, comprising: moving a film strip at a substantially constant speed through a prescribed path; de-. fining adjacent sections in said path; and causing treating fluid streams to flow in said sections of said path and in contact with said film strip, the fluid streams in adjacent sections flowing in opposite directions relative to the length of said film strip.

15. A method of the character described for preventing image drag and preserving maximum constancy in the treatment of a film strip, comprising: establishing a path ofmovement for a film strip; said path of movement being essentially horizontally directed and undulating vertically so as to consist of consecutive upwardly and downwardly sloped sections; moving a film strip at a substantially constant speed through said path; and introducing treating fluid streams at the upper endsvof said sections of saidpath, said streams flowing downwardly in said sections toward the lower ends thereof and making contact with said film strip.

16. A method of developing motion picture film, comprising: moving a film continuously through a developer; and causing the consecutive portions of the developer through which the film is moved to travel in difierent directions relative to the surface of the film in a manner to compensate for image drag.

17. A method of developing motion picture film, comprising: moving a film continuously through a treating fluid; and causing said treating fluid to flow relatively back and forth across the surface of the film to offset the drag of chemicals on the image of said film.

18; An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: walls forming a container for a treating fluid; propelling members for moving a film to be treated through said container; and means for moving a treating fluid within said container and in engagement with the surface of said film, said means being formed to cause said treating fluid to flow relatively back and forth across said surface of said film to offset character described, including: walls forming a:

container for a treating fluid; members for-positioning a film to be treated-in said container; and means for moving a treating fluid within said container and in engagement with the surface of said film, said means being formed to cause said treating fluid to flow relatively .back and forth across said surface of said film to offset the drag of chemicals on the image of said film.

20. A method of the character described 'for treating motion picture film, comprising: moving a film continuously through a treating fluid at relatively slow speed; -and causing the consecutive portions of the treating fluid through which the film is moved to travel at'relatively high speed in different directions relative to the surface of the film to remove therefrom the adheringsurface layer of fluid.

21. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: walls forming a container for a treating fluid; propelling members for moving a film to be treated through said container; and means for moving a treating fluid within said container and in engagement with the surface of said film, said means being formed to cause said treating fluid to flow relatively in different directions across the surface of said film to offset the drag of chemicals on the image of said film and at a velocity. to remove reaction compounds from the surface of the film.

22. An anti-drag film treating device of the character described, including: walls forming a container for a treating fluid; members for positioning a film to be treated in said container; and means for moving a treating fluid within said container and in'engagement with the surface of said film, said means being formed to cause said treating fluid to flow relatively in different directions across said surface of said film to offset the drag of chemicals on the image .of said film.

23. A method of the character described for treating a film strip, comprising: moving a film strip at a substantially constant speed through a prescribed path; defining adjacent sections in said path; and causing treating fluid streams to flow in said sections of said path and in contact .with said film strip, the fluid stream in one seclength of said film strip and at such velocity as to s remove reaction compounds from the surfaceof said film strip. V

25. A method of the character described for treating a film strip, comprising: moving a film strip at a substantially constant speed through a prescribed path; defining adjacent sections in said path; and causing treating fluid streams to flow in said sections of said path and in contact with said film strip, the fluid stream in one section always flowing in one direction and the fluid stream in the section adjacent thereto always flowing in a differentdirection and at such velocity as to remove reaction compounds from the surface of said film strip.

26. A- film treating device of the character described, including: means defining a path of movement for,a film, said path being divided into consecutive sections; means for moving treating fluid in opposite directions in adjacent sections of said path of movement, the flow of fluid in each of said sections always being in the same direction. r

27. The method of preventing harmful image drag and distortion in the developing of a motion picture film by conducting said film through a path of movement and flowing a developer at turbulence-producing velocity back and forth across the face of said film in said path of movement.

28. The method of preventing harmful'image drag and distortion in the developing of a motion picture film by conducting said film through a path of movement and flowing a developer at turbulence-producing velocity across said film in one direction in one portion of said path of movement and across said film in another direction in an adjacent portion of said path of movement.

' THOMAS ,M. INGMAN. 

